Day 2 of Independence Bridge closure: Chaos as Lagosians groan, blame govt (Vanguard)
Angry reactions have continued to trail the closure of Independence Bridge, a major road network linking Victoria Island and other parts of Lagos, by the Federal Government as Lagosians spent many hours in traffic.
Yesterday’s experience, which was the second day of the closure, saw most of the adjourning roads impassable in what has become a nightmare for commuters.
Angry motorists and road users, who plied the axis, blamed both the Federal Government and Lagos State government for not making adequate arrangements for alternative routes. Read more
Gridlock: Lagos controller who ordered bridge closure will be punished – Minister (DailyTrust)
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, says the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mrs Olukorede Keisha, unilaterally ordered closure of the Independence Bridge which led to a gridlock in the metropolis on Wednesday.
Kesha, in a statement, had announced closure of the Independence Bridge (Marina bound) effective from April 1 for essential maintenance and rehabilitation works.
On Wednesday, the closure led to a traffic logjam, forcing many motorists and commuters to spend several hours on the road. Read more
Concerns as hoodlums waylay pedestrians at Sagamu Interchange (Guardian)
There are concerns over hoodlums’ attacks and killings of commuters travelling to Abeokuta and Sagamu from the Sagamu Interchange Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The Guardian gathered that these hoodlums have taken over the area, waylaying unsuspected commuters trying to climb the bridge to board a bus to either Abeokuta or Sagamu.
They usually terrorise passersby with machetes, demanding the submission of personal belongings. Read more
Marketers demand probe of naira-for-crude deal (Sun)
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has called on the Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri, to conduct an appraisal of the first phase of the naira-for-crude oil initiative.
PETROAN’s spokesperson, Joseph Obele, said in a statement that the appraisal of the initiative will determine the next steps in the best interest of Nigerians. Obele noted that as the naira-for-crude tenure ends today, the association is cautioning refinery operators to prioritise the importation of high-quality crude oil.
“We urge the refinery operators to ensure that the crude oil imported meets global standards to guarantee the production of high-quality petroleum products. It is noteworthy that Nigerian crude oil, classified as sweet crude (with less than 0.5 per cent sulphur content), is among the best in the world, and we see no reason why imported crude oil should be of lower standards. Read more
Coastal Project: Court strikes out suit filed by indigenes of Okun-Ajah community (Channels)
The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has struck out a suit against the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project, filed by some indigenes and other concerned property owners of Okun-Ajah Community in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of the state.
Justice Akintayo Aluko ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction and promptly transferred the suit to the Lagos State High Court as the appropriate court to hear the case.
The plaintiffs in the suit are Chief Saheed Olukosi (Akogun of Okun-Ajah Community); Noibi Issa Afolayan, Yussuf Odunuga Sulaiman, Olufemi Fasehun, and Adeola Tokunbo, all representing Okun-Ajah Community and other concerned property owners in the community. Read more
LASU recalls ex-Dean, Prof Hammed (Nation)
The management of Lagos State University (LASU) has recalled the former Dean of Students Affairs (DSA), Professor Tajudeen Olumoko, and Professor Hammed Mutalib after investigation absolving them of extortion and certificate racketeering.
Recall that in November 2023, the university management suspended Prof. Olumoko and Prof Mutalib following a media report revealing that a syndicate was selling certificates for between N2 million and N3 million, depending on the course of study. Olumoko was directly linked to the controversy.
Olumoko was subsequently queried and asked to explain his role in the matter. Read more
Trump’s tariff threatens $10bn US-Nigeria trade (Punch)
The newly imposed 14 per cent tariff by US President Donald Trump on exports by Nigerian businesses presents a significant risk to the $10bn annual exports to the United States, potentially disrupting key sectors such as oil export and agricultural trade, experts and trade associations concerned about a potential global trade war stated on Thursday.
The economic experts, in separate interviews with The PUNCH, noted that the policy, which would raise the prices of goods and services for consumers, would weaken the standard of living, slow down manufacturing activities, hinder international trade and consequently weaken demand for Nigerian oil in the US, one of its key markets.
The experts also predicted that Nigeria’s oil earnings were poised for a significant decline following the announcement of the new tariff regime. Read more
Multi-national Joint Task Force…Niger’s exit will have security implications, DHQ warns (Leadership)
The Defence Headquarters has denied reports that Niger Republic has withdrawn from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), stating that such a move would have serious security implications for both countries.
The MNJTF comprises military units from Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria. It was set up in in March 1994 by the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) to combat insecurity in the region.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the director of defence media operations, Maj. Gen.
Markus Kangye, clarified that the MNJTF remains a critical regional security collaboration and that efforts must be made to prevent any member state from leaving. Read more
Jennifer Lawrence Welcomes Baby No. 2 with Husband Cooke Maroney (People)
Jennifer Lawrence and her husband, Cooke Maroney, have welcomed their second child, expanding their family of three to four. The couple, who are already parents to their three-year-old son Cy, were seen taking a stroll in New York City just days after the baby’s arrival.
Although the couple has not publicly shared details about their new-born, insider sources have confirmed the news. The Hunger Games actress and Maroney have been married since October 2019, tying the knot in a private ceremony at the historic Belcourt of Newport mansion in Rhode Island.
Lawrence first announced her pregnancy in October 2024 through a Vogue feature. The magazine’s Instagram post congratulated her, with representatives confirming the news. A source close to the actress later shared that she was thrilled about expanding her family, describing the timing as perfect. “She loves being a mom and couldn’t be happier to have another baby,” the insider revealed. Read more
Museveni visits Juba amid tension in the oil-rich east African nation (AfricaNews)
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Thursday arrived in the South Sudanese capital of Juba for a visit.
Museveni’s visit to Juba comes amidst tension in the oil-rich east African nation after Riek Machar, who serves as one of the country’s vice presidents, was arrested in the capital towards the end of last month. Museveni was received at Juba International Airport by President Salva Kiir.
The two then held a private meeting before the Ugandan president returned to Uganda. Recent weeks have seen increased tension in the country following Machar’s arrest. Read more
Watch Liam Neeson as you’ve never seen him before in ‘The Naked Gun’ trailer (DigitalSpy)
The Naked Gun, the upcoming comedy film starring Liam Neeson, has released its first teaser trailer.
The film, which serves as both a reboot and the fourth instalment in the iconic franchise, sees Neeson take on the role of Frank Drebin Jr, a police officer who follows in the footsteps of his late father, who was played by Leslie Nielsen in the original films.
Ahead of its scheduled release on August 1, the first teaser has been released for the film, with the action beginning as local police officers circle a bank that is being raided by criminals. Read more
South Korea’s Constitutional Court removes President Yoon from office (AlJazeera)
South Korea’s Constitutional Court has unanimously voted to remove President Yoon Suk-yeol over his declaration of martial law late last year.
As he read the verdict in court on Friday morning, acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae dismissed each of Yoon’s reasons for declaring martial law and said the president had overstepped his authority by deploying troops on the streets of the capital in December.
“The defendant mobilised military and police forces to dismantle the authority of constitutional institutions and infringed upon the fundamental rights of the people. In doing so, he abandoned his constitutional duty to uphold the constitution and gravely betrayed the trust of the Korean people,” Moon said. Read more
Michelle Pfeiffer pays emotional tribute to Val Kilmer after ‘intimate’ relationship (Mirror)
Michelle Pfeiffer has paid tribute to late actor, Val Kilmer, after he died aged 65 following a bout of pneumonia. Val’s daughter, Mercedes, confirmed the news to the NY Times and close friends and fans immediately took to social media to pen emotional tributes to the star.
Val had recovered from a throat cancer diagnosis in 2014. A year later, he had to be rushed to UCLA Medical Center in 2015 to treat severe bleeding in his throat. The tumour was the result of oral cancer. Kilmer was well known for his impressive role as Iceman in the 1986 hit movie Top Gun alongside Tom Cruise.
He also starred in Batman/Bruce Wayne in Batman Forever (1995, while also famously playing musician Jim Morrison in the 1991 film The Doors. Read more
Bruce Springsteen pays tribute following death of friend who inspired ‘‘Glory Days’’ (FarOut)
Bruce Springsteen has paid an emotional tribute to his high school friend Joe DePugh who inspired his classic track, ‘Glory Days’.
The aforementioned song was released by Springsteen in 1984 and appeared on his seminal album Born in the USA. In the track, Springsteen recounts a chance encounter he had with DePugh at a bar in 1973 when they reminisced about playing baseball together as children when life was simple.
DePugh has now died, aged 75, in Florida following a battle with cancer. Remembering his late friend, Springsteen wrote on Instagram: “Just a moment to mark the passing of Freehold native and ballplayer Joe DePugh.”
‘The Boss’ continued: “He was a good friend when I needed one. ‘He could throw that speedball by you, make you look like a fool’….Glory Days my friend.” Read more
New search for MH370 suspended just weeks after it got underway (CBS)
The latest search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has been suspended by maritime exploration firm Ocean Infinity as it is “not the season,” Malaysia’s transport minister has said more than a decade after the plane went missing, and less than six weeks after the new hunt began.
“They (Ocean Infinity) have stopped the operation for the time being, they will resume the search at the end of this year,” Transport Minister Anthony Loke said in a voice recording sent to AFP on Thursday by his aide.
Ocean Infinity, based in Britain and the United States, led an unsuccessful hunt in 2018, before agreeing to launch a new search this year. Read more
Osimhen’s double takes Gala to Turkish Cup semis (Nation)
Super Eagles attacker Victor Osimhen has sent his Turkish Super Lig side, Galatasaray to the semi-final of the Turkish Cup after his double stunned Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce 2-1 yesterday.
Osimhen scored twice in the first half in the 10th and 27th minutes with the second coming from the penalty spot and though Fenerbahce reduced the goal arrears before the end of the first half, they could not complete a comeback.
The win has taken Galatasaray to the semi-final of the FA Cup where they will face Konyaspor for a spot to the final on April 22nd . Read more
Hammer blow for Arsenal as Gabriel is ruled out for the season as injury ‘‘requires surgery’’ (Football365)
Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes will miss the rest of the season with his hamstring injury requiring surgery, the Premier League club have confirmed.
The Gunners star picked up the hamstring injury during the first half of their 2-1 victory over Fulham in the Premier League on Tuesday evening.
Gabriel will now miss the rest of the Premier League run-in, while Arsenal are also competing to win the Champions League with a two-legged quarter-final against Real Madrid beginning next week. Read more
Leicester identify potential Ruud van Nistelrooy replacement (DailyMail)
Danny Rohl is a possible target for Leicester next season if Ruud van Nistelrooy leaves the club in the event of relegation.
Sitting 12 points adrift of safety with eight games remaining, the Foxes look destined for an immediate return to the Championship.
Van Nistelrooy signed a deal until June 2027 when he replaced Steve Cooper last autumn but Leicester have declined under the Dutchman, losing 14 of their last 15 league fixtures. Read more
Top-20 players ask Grand Slams for more prize money (BBC)
The top 20 men’s and women’s players have sent a letter to the four Grand Slams asking for more prize money.
The letter, which was first reported by French newspaper L’Equipe, requested a meeting to discuss players receiving a greater share of the revenue generated by the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.
World number 11 Emma Navarro cited “unfair pay ratios” as a reason for putting her name to the letter.
“I talked a little bit to the other players about it and felt like it was a good idea to sign”, the 23-year-old American said on Wednesday. Read more
Jeamie Tshikeva flips table over as Joe Joyce press conference descends into chaos (Mirror)
Jeamie Tshikeva caused chaos at a final press conference ahead of his British heavyweight clash with David Adeleye when he flipped a table in anger as the pair exchanged verbal blows.
Tshikeva – known as Jeamie TKV and a gym mate of Anthony Joshua – was pulled away by security after he sent the table in the air. The British challenger blew up as Adeleye was goading him ahead of their showdown at Manchester’s Co-Op Live.
The clash, which is on the undercard of Joe Joyce ’s meeting with Filip Hrgovic, is clearly full of bad blood. They had already caused chaos at Talksport’s studios earlier in the week when the fighters and their teams clashed. Read more
Eddie Hearn makes new signing as heavy hitting star joins Matchroom (DAZN)
Heavy-handed lightweight contender Elif Nur Turhan has signed a multi-fight promotional deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing following her impressive knockout win over Shauna Browne in Belfast last month.
The 29-year-old from Istanbul has won all ten of her fights since turning professional back in May 2022, with six of those wins coming inside the distance, and the former WBC International and WBA Gold world champion hopes to further cement herself as one of the most exciting female fighters on the planet after teaming up with Matchroom. Managed by Ertan Sen of Box Promotion Germany, Turhan (10-0, 6 KOs) introduced herself on the big stage by wiping out Ireland’s Browne with a monster left hook in the opening round of their ten-round clash on the undercard of Lewis Crocker vs Paddy Donovan at the SSE Arena Belfast. Read more